Track for roll-curtains or flexible sliding doors.



H. J. Rmgfl. TRACK FOR ROLL CURTAINS'OR FLEXIBLE SLIDING DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17. I916.

Patented Dec; 25, 1917.

INVENTGR n I 'I v I nanny J. arrrna, F TIPPECANQE CITY, 0310.

TRACK FOR ROLL-CUBTAIN$ OR FLEXIBLE smnme noons.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Application filed July 17, 1916. Serial No. 108,767.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, H N Y J. BITTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tippecanoe City, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tracks for Roll-Curtains or Flexible Sliding Doors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to tracks for roll curtains or flexible sliding doors, especially adapted for use in connection with kitchen cabinets and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a track upon the outside of a cabinet which will be a more sanitary arrangement. Other objects of the invention are to provide a track on which the curtain can be more easily operated and from which the latter can be removed if desired.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of one corner of the cabinet with a portion of the door broken away for the sake of clearness; Fig. 2 is a perspective view with parts in section and looking downwardly upon the lower track; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the position that the roller occupies relatively to the track.

In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated the cabinet 1 is provided with vertically extending corner frame members or posts 2 which in the present .embodiment are four in number. Connecting the posts and forming the walls of the cabinet are the side and rear panels 3, the front of the cabinet being provided with an opening 4. Surrounding the front, sides and rear of the cabinet above and below the opening 4 are tracks 5 and 6. These tracks are located entirely outside of the cabinet and the walls thereof and are provided with grooves 7 in which the roll curtains or flexible doors 8 are adapted to slide. These doors are provided with suitable knobs 9 by which they may be operated and comprise vertically extending wooden strips 10 flexibly connected to each other by canva strips 11 extending transversely thereof. In order to provide a stop to limit the sliding movement of the doors I have cut away portions of the lower and upper tracks at the rear, as shown in connection with the lower track in Fig. 2, leaving spaced apart ends 12. Between these ends is a stop 13 pivoted at 14. By the above arrangement I have provided means tolimit the slidi g o eme t f bo -h -but which at the same time will enable the doors to be wnoved f the r o e bysimply r t ing t e stop 13 Out tths ay nd then drawingthe doors from the. ends l2. The track 5 is preferably made in .sections .and usually of wood. As shown in Fig. l the sections 15 and 16 are located at the side and front respectively and have their adjacent ends 17 and 18 spaced from each other at the corner 2.

Great inconvenience has been experienced heretofore on account of the resistance and difiiculty encountered in moving the flexible doors around these corners, To obviate this I have provided an inner block 19 which is fitted against the uprig ht 2 and connects the inner portions of the ends 17 and 18. The outer portion 20 of this block 19 is curved and flush with the vertical inner portions 21 of the groove 7 Connecting the outer portions of the ends ofthe strips 15 and 16 I have provided a metallic curved strip 22 which is bent inwardly at 23 and connected to the ends at 24. This strip 22 is bent so that the inner surface 25, thereof is flush with the outer vertical portion 26 of the groove 7. By the device above described f icti n s lly edu d, t e groove is of uni orm i h. o n h co ne s. and f u s an ally: he same Width th st aigh por ions tbsre f- T e me al ic t ip coasting th th Wo de port n o th t a k and curtain edu fr ct n and the difliculty of moving the door to a very great extent. In a like manner the track 6 located above the opening 4 is made in similar sections 27 and 28 connected by a similar strip 29. The construction at the corners is substantially the same for all the corners and needs no detail description. The tops of the ends of the sections 27 and 28, as shown in Fig. 1, are connected by a suitable cover plate 30 attached thereto at 31.

Each of the corners of the lower track is I provided with an antifriction device or roller 32 to still further facilitate the movement of the doors around the corners. Each of these rollers is journaled on a suitable axis 33 which centrally connects the block 19 and the strip 22. The uppermost portion, 34, of the roller is above the level of the horizontal portion 35 of the groove. By this arrangement as the door is moved around the corners the portions thereofadjacent thereto will be bodily lifted from the horizontal portion 35.

It will be seen that I have invented a very durable structure in which the doors can be very easily operated and friction reduced to a minimum. The grooves are entirely outside of the interior of the cabinet so that there is no danger of the former becoming filled with matter which will render the cabinet, especially a kitchen cabinet, very unsanitary. This track also does not take up any unnecessary space. The metallic strips connecting the corners of the track have a distinct advantage not heretofore utilized. The use of the roller at the corners is also highly serviceable as is the position thereof with relation to the horizontal portion of the groove. Should any of the strips of the door become broken the doors can be easily removed from the grooves holding them. At the same time in the normal operation thereof they will be held securely in place.

lVhile I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purposes of illustration, and that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a cabinet, of tracks mounted on the outside of said cabinet and comprising two upper and two lower grooved members arranged at an angle to each other with their adjacent ends spaced apart at the corner of the cabinet, curved metallic strips connecting the two upper and the two lower members at the corner of the cabinet, a flexible door, comprising vertically arranged strips having their upper and lower ends sliding in the grooves of said members and riding on said metallic strips, a roller inside the metallic strip connecting said lower grooved members over which the lower ends of said strips ride and by which said strips are slightly raised as they pass around said corner.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a cabinet having a substantially right angled corner, of tracks outside said cabinet, comprising two upper and two lower grooved members, arranged at substantially right angles to each other and reaching approximately to said corner whereby the ends of said grooved members adjacent said corner are spaced somewhat apart, a flexible door comprising vertically arranged strips connected together and sliding in said grooved members, curved metallic strips connecting the adjacent ends of .said grooved members and serving to guide said vertically arranged strips around the corner of said cabinet, a roller inside the metallic strip connecting said lower grooved members over which the lower ends of said strips ride and by which said strips are slightly raised as they pass around said corner.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a cabinet, of tracks mounted on the outside of said cabinet and comprising two upper and two lower grooved members arranged at an angle to each other, a flexible door comprising vertically arranged strips connected together and riding in the grooves of said track members, a roller located between the adjacent ends of said lower grooved members on which the lower ends of said vertical strips ride and by which the strips are slightly raised as they pass from one lower grooved member to the other.

In testimony whereof, I afiiX my signature.

HENRY J. BITTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

